Injection vs Combined pill
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Add your Injection review
£From £0.16/day
Overview
Rated 2.9
313 reviews
Every 2-3 months
Frequency
94% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
Short term
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.8
2774 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Injection ingredients
Main hormones in Injection
progestogen
Combined pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combined pill
progestogen
oestrogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Endometriosis
Heavy periods
Period pain
Acne or bad skin
Heavy periods
PMS and PMDD
PCOS symptoms
Period pain
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£From £0.16/day
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Injection reviews
313 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I’ve been getting this shot ever since my first period and before I started taking it, I was having heavy period cramps and I disliked the constant pain from my period cramps
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I’ve been getting this shot ever since my first period and before I started taking it, I was having heavy period cramps and I disliked the constant pain from my period cramps
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
First 3 weeks were fine, I spent first 3 days filled with rage and nausea and a few headaches but fine. First expected period rolled around at 3 weeks in and didn't stop, like at all (day 77 as I write this). About 6 weeks in my mood crashed. As someone who has previously had mental health problems, I was incredibly apprehensive about going on any kind of hormonal birth control because I was scared of side effects. But in order to get my tubes tied, my doctors wanted to see me try this first and everyone reassured me that I was just being paranoid and it wouldn't be as bad as I imagined. Unfortunately it was worse than I imagined. I spent 4 weeks getting progressively more suicidal until I finally went to the doctors (which was its own story) but had to take three Valium a day in order to function and go to work. At the time of writing, I'm 2 weeks out of the 12-week expected window, still bleeding and still suffering mentally but less so and more manageably. This experience has put me off trying any other form of birth control. I had done this to try and reduce PMS symptoms and wish I never had. I was also recommended the mirena coil but didn't like the idea of having to have it inserted or removed if things went wrong/justify myself to a doctor
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I’ve been getting this shot ever since my first period and before I started taking it, I was having heavy period cramps and I disliked the constant pain from my period cramps
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I’ve been getting this shot ever since my first period and before I started taking it, I was having heavy period cramps and I disliked the constant pain from my period cramps
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
First 3 weeks were fine, I spent first 3 days filled with rage and nausea and a few headaches but fine. First expected period rolled around at 3 weeks in and didn't stop, like at all (day 77 as I write this). About 6 weeks in my mood crashed. As someone who has previously had mental health problems, I was incredibly apprehensive about going on any kind of hormonal birth control because I was scared of side effects. But in order to get my tubes tied, my doctors wanted to see me try this first and everyone reassured me that I was just being paranoid and it wouldn't be as bad as I imagined. Unfortunately it was worse than I imagined. I spent 4 weeks getting progressively more suicidal until I finally went to the doctors (which was its own story) but had to take three Valium a day in order to function and go to work. At the time of writing, I'm 2 weeks out of the 12-week expected window, still bleeding and still suffering mentally but less so and more manageably. This experience has put me off trying any other form of birth control. I had done this to try and reduce PMS symptoms and wish I never had. I was also recommended the mirena coil but didn't like the idea of having to have it inserted or removed if things went wrong/justify myself to a doctor
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Combined pill reviews
2774 reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
overall this pill is pretty great. on the website there is a lot of negative reviews and i have not shared many. i began this pill in year 10 to clear my acne. i didn’t have terrible acne but i was pretty self conscious about it especially when most of my friends didn’t get acne like mine and i covered it up with concealer and foundation which isn’t good for my skin. my experience with my doctor was extremely positive, he told me that i could either continue a stronger acne cream (which didnt work for me and only dried my skin) begin the pill or take accutane. unlike many of my other friends who were forced to take the pill or some kind of contraceptive, i chose to take the pill and he even let me research which one i would take and we then discussed together which would be suitable for me. in the first couple of months, i stopped breaking out when i had periods and my acne began clearing up very quickly which boosted my confidence a lot. in month three, i began to have stomach cramps when i wasnt on my period so i told my doctor and he said i should try taking it at night and after food which seemed to help. i also began skipping my periods which obviously stopped cramping on and before periods. he also told me it could just be my body reacting the the changes so im not saying this is the solution for everyone. about halfway through year 11, i no longer had any visible pimple and it was mainly just my skin texture that needed improving, but i felt much more confident especially as i moved to a new school in year 11 and was surrounded by new people and a new environment. my skin was so good that by the end of year 11, we went on a school trip to heron island and i didn’t cover my acne at all. while my main issues were fixed, i experienced much more discharge, not in amount but every day i had discharge which made me feel a bit unhygienic down there but i didnt want to stop or switch the pill as it had improved my skin so much. now i have been on it for almost three years i find that this issue has been improved which is a plus for me but it was uncomfortable around the halfway mark where it peaked. i do reccomend this pill besides the low reviews, but i do think that the first couple of months i experienced changes (the cramping) that only reduced by letting my body get used to the medication. this is just my experience and not medical advice :)) thanks yazmin :b
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
I was on this pill for my periods as they were very irregular and acne and in the beginning it worked very well but after a few months I had intense break through bleeding and I was basically on my period for months. My acne cleared then got worse, I gained alot of weight and I started having horrible migraines
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
overall this pill is pretty great. on the website there is a lot of negative reviews and i have not shared many. i began this pill in year 10 to clear my acne. i didn’t have terrible acne but i was pretty self conscious about it especially when most of my friends didn’t get acne like mine and i covered it up with concealer and foundation which isn’t good for my skin. my experience with my doctor was extremely positive, he told me that i could either continue a stronger acne cream (which didnt work for me and only dried my skin) begin the pill or take accutane. unlike many of my other friends who were forced to take the pill or some kind of contraceptive, i chose to take the pill and he even let me research which one i would take and we then discussed together which would be suitable for me. in the first couple of months, i stopped breaking out when i had periods and my acne began clearing up very quickly which boosted my confidence a lot. in month three, i began to have stomach cramps when i wasnt on my period so i told my doctor and he said i should try taking it at night and after food which seemed to help. i also began skipping my periods which obviously stopped cramping on and before periods. he also told me it could just be my body reacting the the changes so im not saying this is the solution for everyone. about halfway through year 11, i no longer had any visible pimple and it was mainly just my skin texture that needed improving, but i felt much more confident especially as i moved to a new school in year 11 and was surrounded by new people and a new environment. my skin was so good that by the end of year 11, we went on a school trip to heron island and i didn’t cover my acne at all. while my main issues were fixed, i experienced much more discharge, not in amount but every day i had discharge which made me feel a bit unhygienic down there but i didnt want to stop or switch the pill as it had improved my skin so much. now i have been on it for almost three years i find that this issue has been improved which is a plus for me but it was uncomfortable around the halfway mark where it peaked. i do reccomend this pill besides the low reviews, but i do think that the first couple of months i experienced changes (the cramping) that only reduced by letting my body get used to the medication. this is just my experience and not medical advice :)) thanks yazmin :b
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
I was on this pill for my periods as they were very irregular and acne and in the beginning it worked very well but after a few months I had intense break through bleeding and I was basically on my period for months. My acne cleared then got worse, I gained alot of weight and I started having horrible migraines
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
Had it for almost a year now, I’ve been on the pill (around 5 different ones) since I was 13 due to heavy non stop bleeding. This one had the fewest noticeable side effects that didn’t make me want to change, apart from the sex drive. I don’t know if it’s because my hormones have been tampered with since I started puberty but I’m 18 now and this low libido, sex drive and vaginal dryness is not ideal. It’s a bit of a hindrance.
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I requested Zoelly after attending a talk at spire about endometriosis as it was recommenced. For the first 3 months I loved it! Minimal cramps and much lighter periods lasting 2 and a half days (always been 6-7 days and heavy for me). After about 9 months - 1 year. Periods went back to 6 days but lighter. However, my endo symptoms have worsened. I can’t say if that’s is due to the pill though. I was taken off this due to developing migraines (I think developed due to stress rather than the pill) and endo symptoms worsening so to try another option.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Went in it for my acne which it massively improved, however experienced a lot of mental health issues (but obviously can’t be certain that’s from the pill) and a loss of libido.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Honestly the best of all of the pills I’ve taken. However, after 18m on this I’m going to come off it and go back to natural cycles due to the following - loss of sex drive, constant and I mean constant headaches, generally feeling a bit ‘flat’ and tired all the time. I also have heavy limbs which is a weird side effect. That said, Zoely did not have any negative implications on my skin, weight, appetite and I don’t get mood swings- in fact I just feel a bit too flat overall so perhaps If mood swings are an issue it might suit you! But I’ve gone the other way
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Regular and shorter period (4 days) and light flow. It made my skin perfect and my hair a bit thinner. I gained a lot of weight while on it and it was impossible for me to lose it, no matter how much I worked out or what diet I was doing. If I could go back I wouldn’t start using it, as in my case I only needed it for contraception.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Within the 1st month, I had terrible mood swings; I become angry and irritable towards my parent. I seemed to calm down but then pick back up again in the next week. From withdrawal from this, everything was ok, apart from having a few pains and it also made my periods light. I didn’t have any symptoms of nausea or vomiting but I did gain a bit of weight and had breast tenderness (i dont know if my breast got bigger). By the 2nd month, I ended up feeling really low and had quite dark thoughts; my headache got worse and I was crying a lot during the day/night. Because of this I’m no longer taking this pill.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
1 comments
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